Verizon Aiming to Complete 4G LTE Rollout by Mid-2013
Quarter of a billion consumers currently covered by Verizon's LTE network.
U.S. carrier Verizon expects to complete its full deployment of 4G LTE across USA by the mid stages of 2013.
Speaking at a Wells Fargo Securities technology conference, the firm's Chief Financial Officer, Fran Shammo, confirmed the carrier is aiming for a mid-2013 launch period for the completion of its 4G LTE rollout. It's believed that timeframe is about six months earlier than the company had previously predicted.
"I was confident in the first quarter when I said that you'll see an acceleration of our growth through the year, and I think that's proven to be correct," Shammo said.
Last month, Verizon confirmed it would exceed its year-end goal of reaching 400 markets with its 4G LTE coverage two months ahead of schedule. By October 18, the firm reached a total of 417 markets in the United States.
Quarter of a billion consumers are now covered by Verizon's LTE network, which is approximately 80 percent of the population in the region. The carrier said its goal is to reach at least 260 million customers before 2013 arrives.

They are: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/AT-T-4G-LTE-Wireless-Networks,18980.html
Not trying to sound like a troll here, but I originally thought I needed the 4G connection, so I bought into the unlimited right before VZW cut it off. Frankly, I don't use it...
When I travel, I use my Droid for GPS (Waze) and simultaneous streaming radio on pandora or iheartradio, both of which takes 3G just fine.
When I am "at some place".... there is generally usable wireless that makes the 4G redundant. Now, I love my network speed. Streaming Netflix or using my rooted phone as a hotspot, etc... And having what mimics a Comcast connection in your pocket is kinda cool. It's just that, in practical, real world use, I don't use it for what I though I would. I mean, maybe 1% of the time I'll do it, but for the most part I am not using the extra bandwidth. /rant.
Verizon does this knowingly because they don't want to have consumers have that for free, and it's the reason Google didn't decide on making a 4G LTE version of the Nexus 4.
what about where there is no lte? wouldnt a cdma radio come in handy? how about making calls and using the net at the same time? sounds dumb but i do it all the time. sure perhaps it opens a loophole but i rather use the benefits of it.